Five questions about ... the Royals

Royals fans let their passion be known in support of <b>Billy Butler</b> at the All-Star Game recently. But the Royals have given them little else to get excited about this season.<br> Click through the photos for a preview of this week's Royals-Angels series in Anaheim.<br>AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

It has been awhile since the Angels faced a team like the Kansas City Royals.

No, really. The Angels haven't faced a team with a losing record since – well, it's complicated.

The Indians are one game under .500 after their loss to the Orioles Sunday. But they were over .500 two weeks ago when the Angels were in Cleveland. Before that, you have to go back to the Angels' interleague series against the Diamondbacks (June 15-17) to find a team with a losing record on the Angels' schedule.

And after the Royals visit for three games this week, the Angels play 13 more games against teams over .500. That makes a stretch of 45 games during which the Royals are the Angels' only sub-.500 respite.

Before welcoming the Royals to town – and the Angels should do just that – we checked in with long-time beat writer Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Follow Bob on Twitter @Royals_Report.

Click through the photos for a preview of this week's Royals-Angels series in Anaheim.

Royals fans let their passion be known in support of Billy Butler at the All-Star Game recently. But the Royals have given them little else to get excited about this season. Click through the photos for a preview of this week's Royals-Angels series in Anaheim.AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER1) Now that the All-Star Game is over, what do Royals fans have to look forward to?AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERA: Chiefs season (pictured)? Missouri's first year in the SEC? It's hard to find too many things at this point that will hold the interest of any but the most dedicated over the final 70 games.AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER2) The Royals are 14 games under .500 – again. What happened to the progress they were supposed to be making with all that young talent?

(Pictured -- Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer)AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERA: The main problem is their rotation. Many (well, nearly all) of their highly-regarded young arms have either stalled, regressed or become injured. This was supposed to be LHP Danny Duffy's breakthrough season, and he showed some early signs, before blowing out his elbow. LHP John Lamb was their top pitching prospect going into 2011, and he is just now getting back on the mound after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2011. LHPs Mike Montgomery and Chris Dwyer, two other top prospects, have regressed. Montgomery was recently demoted to Class AA.

(Continued)AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
RHP Felipe Paulino is no prospect, but he had a sub-2.00 ERA through seven starts before he, like Duffy, blew out his elbow and required TJ surgery. It also didn't help that LHP Jonathan Sanchez, who they hoped would be a reliable middle-of-the rotation guy, was beyond awful. He was DFA'd last Monday at 1-6 with a 7.76 ERA before getting traded Friday to Colorado. The Royals' rotation was suspect even before all of these injuries. AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER3) The Royals lost four pitchers to season-ending Tommy John surgeries – Danny Duffy, Joakim Soria, Blake Wood and Felipe Paulino. How different would the season have been with a healthier pitching staff?AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERA: Answered this somewhat above, but I think the loss of Joakim Soria hurt more than people realize. With Soria, the Royals could have backed Jonathan Broxton into an eighth-inning role -- and everyone else back down a notch. In effect, the Royals would have been in good shape if (OK, a big if) they could just get five innings from their starter.AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER4) Which of those young players have taken a step forward this year – and which have taken a step back?

(Pictured --Mike Moustakas is batting .269 with 16 home runs and 50 RBI.)AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERA: Catcher Salvy Perez tore cartilage in his left knee in spring training and only returned last month, but he's looking like a guy who deserved the eight-year deal he signed in spring training just prior to the injury. Shortstop Alcides Escobar is batting .300-plus in addition to playing terrific defense. Third baseman Mike Moustakas has become a solid power bat. Center fielder Lorenzo Cain, who also missed three months, is showing signs of why the Royals felt comfortable in trading Melky Cabrera.

(Continued)AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The only real regression -- but it's a big one -- is first baseman Eric Hosmer. I still think he's going to be a big talent for a long time but, boy, he's having a rough year.

(Hosmer, pictured, is batting .226 with nine home runs and 40 RBI.)AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER5) Once again, the Royals would appear to be in the position of ‘sellers' at the July 31 trade deadline. Who moves?

(Pictured -- Royals GM Dayton Moore)AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERA: They've already (somehow) moved Jonathan Sanchez. They are drawing interest in Jonathan Broxton, but they want a major-league-ready talent. That makes it tough. Any club in a race (i.e., those that would want a short-term closer; Broxton is a pending free agent) is loathe to give up any guy who offers immediate help.

(Continued)AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Royals are willing to move RF Jeff Francoeur, but he's still owed $9 million plus through next season. It could be tough to trade that contract AND get anything in return. INF Yuniesky Betancourt is a pending free agent and can add some pop for a middle infielder. But he's got warts, too. Not sure what he'd bring back. The greatest need is to acquire one or two reliable starting pitchers. I'm talking guys who are legit No. 3s. Here's the thing: The Royals are willing to surrender prospects to get those guys, and they still had a stocked farm system. The issue is whether they can bump up the payroll enough to support those salaries. Even No. 3 starters aren't cheap.AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Pitching probables for the Angels-Royals series this week:

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